SECRETARY-GENERAL CONGRATULATES PASCAL LAMY ON SELECTION

 

AS DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

 

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General warmly congratulates Pascal Lamy on his formal selection as the next Director-General of the World Trade Organization.  The Secretary-General notes that Mr. Lamy’s proven track record as Trade Commissioner of the European Union, and his understanding that progress on trade is vital to our work to reach the Millennium Development Goals, makes him an excellent leader of the WTO at this defining time.  He warmly welcomes Mr. Lamy’s express commitment to completing the Doha trade negotiations, and to ensuring that trade contributes to the development of those countries that need it most.  He wishes Mr. Lamy all the best as he prepares to take up his duties on 1 September, and looks forward to an ever closer partnership between their two Organizations in the years ahead.

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